This week’s BotW comes from Don, who sent us photos of his pristine-clean ’58 P-Bass.
Don writes:
This P-Bass, build date 11-58, came to me in the late 60’s with basically no finish. I continued to strip her down to bare wood. Completely removed all components, cleaned them as best I could, keeping all of the original parts. Missing were the original volume/bass-trebel knobs. As shown in these photos the anodized aluminum pick guard is new, the original is in the original Tweed Hard Case.
I then reshot the 3 tone sunburst and cleared the instrument with many coats of original nitro cellulose lacquer. Fender issued me an original Fender Precision Bass decal for the tuning head. Did lots of hand rubbing to get the high finish.
It plays as good as it looks. The flat wound strings are approximately 40 years old.
Well done, Don!
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Why are the pickups covered and why is the black piece below the strings and not above it for a thunb rest? Just curious.
Nice job, should be in a museum
Brad, That is the traditional position for the “Pull Bar/Thumb Rest” It was originally intended to help ease the transition for upright bass player to the electric bass. Upright players traditionally pluck the strings while anchoring their fingers on the side of the fretboard of the upright bass. The “Pull Bar” added the anchor point. The pickup and bridge covers are mostly just for aesthetics.
I missed “…pluck the strings with their thumb…”
I have a 57 vintage from the 80s.I could only imagine having the real deal.Not that I would throw stones at mine.Truly Fender are the staple when it comes to bass guitars.
Wow , this bass look very well. I would like to bay ,how much it’s ?
Nice, very nice. Has it been refretted? Reason I ask is my ’75 needed it, but maybe using flatwounds saves on the wear n tear? Still got the orginal case, I had to replace mine as well.
Nice, very nice. Has it been refretted? Reason I ask is my ’75 needed it, but maybe using flatwounds saves on the wear n tear? Still got the orginal case, I had to replace mine as well.